No matter how you slice it, if you have a petty larceny Tulsa OK charge, you are in trouble. Larceny is another name for theft.
In Oklahoma, it is defined as taking another’s personal property either through fraud or stealth, with the intent to deprive that person of it. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1701
While it may seem like a trivial matter to take a purse or wallet from someone, or take a phone or piece of jewelry, in Oklahoma, that could land you in jail. Here is what you need to know about larceny in Oklahoma.
Larceny in Oklahoma: A Recipe For Jail Time
Oklahoma categorizes larceny into either grand (large) or petit (small). It is necessary to understand what grand larceny is in order to understand petit or petty larceny Tulsa OK. Some of the differences between these two lie in the value of the property taken.
In grand larceny, either the value taken is in excess of $500, or the taking occurs from the person of another, regardless of the value. The enhanced danger involved in taking property from another’s person warrants a stricter penalty in the eyes of the Oklahoma legislature. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1704
So, taking a person’s old flip phone directly from that person, with the intent to deprive them of it, can be considered grand larceny in Oklahoma regardless of the value of the phone.
If larceny is not grand in Oklahoma, it is petit. In addition, if you find property and it has enough information for you to reasonably be able to ascertain the identity of the owner, you could be convicted of larceny if you do not make a reasonable attempt to find the owner and return the property. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1702
Penalties for Petty Larceny Tulsa OK
If you are convicted of a petit or petty larceny Tulsa OK charge, you could face a fine between $10 and $500, imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months, or both. The court has a lot of discretion in sentencing. Jail time of any length can seriously impact your life. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1706
The penalty for grand larceny is much more serious. Depending on the value of the item taken, you could face one to seven years in prison in addition to fines and payment of restitution to the victim. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1705
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